Article holding device



E. E. ORNELL ARTICLE HOLDING DEVICE Oct. 24, 1950 Filed Nov. 20, 1945 fig, /0

Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES ,PATENT oEFlcE ARTICLE HOLDING DEVICE Edwin E. omen. seattle, Wash. VAppli@aufm November 2o, 1945', serial No. 629,825

2 Claims.

Y y V1 My invention relatesto a devicefo'r suspendingly supporting articles of limited weight and limited thickness. The articles which are to bek removably and readily supported from my device will include inter alia pieces of paper, cloth, fabric and other materials, so as to suspendedly support the articles for drying or for storage. A particular utility for my device is that of a holder to suspendedly'support Womens hose for drying, but my invention is not to be limited to such use, and is applicable in all fields where like problems exist in whole or in part.

It is the object of my invention to provide a structure which may be readily constructed of wood or plastic or 'the like so that there is no danger of suspended hose being rust marked or the like, which would lbe inherently present if the device were formed of metal.

It is a further object of my invention to provide plastic means which can be employed, which will provide a minimum contact and maximum securing power so that hose will dry evenly.

Another object of the invention is to provide plastic means of a character which 'will engage substantially close to the extremity of the hose so 'that substantially all of the hose will be sus-V pended'below the engagement area, and thus vprovide for uniform texture in drying of the hosiery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which may be economically manufac= tured and Which will have'maximum efficiency.

The above-mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same are attained by the devices illustrated in the following drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like reference parts:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of one lform of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a view in side Velevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4; f

Fig. 6 is 'a perspective fragmentary view of an= other form of my invention;

Fig. '7 is a View in front elevation of the `device shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary exploded plan view of structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. l is a fragmentary View in elevation of one unit shown in Figs. 8 and 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in elevation of pend upon the number of fastening devices which are to be employed; therefore, I have shown a fragment of base number I3 and with one end portion broken. Also, the base number I3 is preferably provided with suitable means to engage the same to a wall or a door or the like and such expediency may bein the nature of two holes as is commonly employed to secure a base member to such members. The base member I3 in the form shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawing is provided with a plurality of openings to receive therein shafts or spindles I4. These shafts or spindles 'Ill are preferably glued or otherwise rigidly secured to the base member I3. Each of the shafts or spindles I has its outer end divided into two shafts I5 and I6, and with a kerf or slot II there between. Each shaft I5 and I6 is provided with a semi-spherical member I8 at its outer end.

The cross-section area of each shaft I5 and I6 is such that such members function as flexible shafts, which are rigidly carried by a shaft I4 and the base member it. members I8 are located so that two semi-spherical surfaces I3 are adjacent and preferably con tiguous and thus present there between a viselike member to engage articies such as hosiery.

The positioning of the parts is such so that the members I8 are tangent and preferably contiguous and under slight resilient pressure urging two members I8 towards each other. The size of the kerf Il is sufficient to permit the shafts I5 and I to bend or flex ythe amount necessary to permit the insertion vof the articles for which the rack is designed to be inserted between two ad'i jacent spherical surfaces I8.

Thus the structure of Figs. 1 to 3 is yone 'where a spherical member I8 supported by a shaft I5 of one spindle I4 will be in registration and will function in combination with a spherical member'IB supported by `a shaft I6 of an adjacentA IThe semi-spherical which are spaced apart longitudinally on the base member I9. Thus the base member I9 of Figs. 4 and 5 may be functionally the same as the base member I3 of Figs. 1 to 3, and the shaft 20 of Figs. 4 and 5 can be functionally the same as shaft or spindles I4 of Figs. 1 to 3. However, I have shown a shaft 20 in Figs. 4 and 5 which is substantally rectangular in section while the shaft I3 of Figs. 1 to 3 is substantially circular in section. The outer end of shaft 20 is again split and provides two leg portions 2l and 22 and with a kerf or slot 23 therebetween. The leg portions 2| and 22, while of different shape than the shaft portions I5 and I6 of the previous figures function in a similar manner and are flexible. Each of the leg portions, 2I or 22, carries arcuate member 24 or 25 and member 24 carried by one shaft 20 cooperates with a member 25 carried by an adjacent shaft 20 providingga similar mode of operation to that of the semi-spherical members I8 of the previous form of my invention. The members 24 and 25 of Figs. 4 and 5 are arcuate and will present greater contacting area than will be present where there are two semi-spherical members as in the previous form. If it is desired to increase the grasping power, then I preferably provide matching convex and concave surfaces in adjacent members 24 and 25. As an example the member 24 carries the concave surface 26 and the member 25, with which it registers, carries a convex surface 21. Obviously, either the member 24 or 25 can carry the concave or the convex surface as long as mating concave or convex surfaces are provided.

Referring to the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the base member 28 may be the same as base member I9 of the previous form of my invention.

The base 28 supports shaft 29 similar to the manner in which base I9 supported shaft 20 or base I3 supported shaft I4. The shaft 29 continues into a bifurcated portion 30 and each leg of the bifurcated portion 30 terminates in arcu- X ate member 3| or 32, which are between the legs of the bifurcated portion 30 rather than outside of shafts, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Preferably, and for the same reason as indicated in connection with Figs. 4 and 5,.' the arcuate shaped portions 3l and 32 carry matings concave and convex portions 33 and 34 respectively. While the concave and convex portions have been illustrated in connection with the structure of Figs. 4 and 5 and also with the structure of Figs. 6 and 7, it is expressly understood that such can be employed with the other forms of my invention, if desired.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11, the principal change is that a structure is indicated which may be formed of two units and then the units interfitted to form the completed device. One unit 35 carries a portion of the hose engaging means and unit 36 carries the other portions. While the hose engaging means may take various forms, I haveY shown by way of illustration in Figs. 8 to 11, the unit 35 comprising a base 31, carrying a plurality of spaced spindles 38, each of which has a spherical member 39 at its end. The unit 36 comprisesV a base 40, carrying a plurality of spaced spindles 4I, each of which has a spherical member 42 at its end. The base 40 has openings 43 through which the spindles 38 and members 39 pass. Thus the members can be moved relative each other as indicated by the exploded view (Fig. 9) for assembly and disassembly. Thus a device is shown which can be readily formed in two units and then assembled.

The structure of Figs. 4 and 5, of Figs. 6 and 7, and Figs. 8 to 11 are best suited for manufacture of the device from plastics, either by molding of reforming from a formed plastic. On the other hand the article shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing may suitably be made from plastics or turned from Wood.

It is thus obvious that the various forms of my invention provide for a simple, compact, efficient, and highly desirable holder for articles such as womens hosiery; also, it is obvious that the devicelcan be suitably decorated to be of pleasing appearance as Well as of great utility. Also, it is obvious that as the structures lend themselves to being made of wood or plastics that they can be used without fear of metal rust stains or the like.

Obviously, changes may be made in the form, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, the above setting forth only preferred form of embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A fabric holder comprising, a base member; a plurality of aligned supporting shafts spaced longitudinally of said base and rigidly carried by ausy said base; two parallel and spaced flexible shafts rigidly carried by each of the said supporting shafts; and a substantially semi-spherically shaped article engaging member carried by each of said flexible shafts and positioned with the arcuate portions of adjacent members directed toward each other.

2. A fabric holder comprising, a base member; a plurality of aligned supporting shafts spaced -longitudinally of said base and rigidly carried by said base, each shaft having a longitudinally directed kerf in its outer end portion forming two flexible shaft portions; and a substantially semi-spherically shaped article engaging member carried by each of said flexible shaft portions and positioned with the arcuate portions of adjacent members directed toward each other.

` EDWIN E. ORNELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arevof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 378,407 Strauss Feb. 21, 1888 380,694 Pringle Apr. 10, 1888 471,858 Hamlin Mar. 29, 1892 832,086 Schweitzer Oct. 2, 1906 846,676 Linkl'ater Mar. 12, 1907 977,727 Giese Dec.. 6, 1910 2,007,636 .Brothers July 9, 1935 2,075,279 Good Mar. 30, 1937 2,213,537 Stevens Sept. 3, 1940 

